Stitches came out early?

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

I gave birth six days ago and had a second-degree perineal tear. At my day 5 check-up yesterday the midwife checked my stitches and said the wound looked fine but the stitches had already come out - when I asked what this meant/whether they should be redone she said (I felt rather breezily!), 'oh, it'll still be fine, it's just it'll take longer to heal'. I was a bit upset by this as I thought I'd got off very lightly and was healing really well - as long as I take ibuprofen I'm not in any pain - and that that might mean I'd heal and be able to resume normal activity (walking long distances - not sex!) quite quickly. Anyone else that this happened to got any experiences of what 'longer to heal' means? And is it true that it's still going to heal as well without stitches - am I more likely to heal in a bit of a jagged/uneven way?

[Novia]

Please, please get it properly checked and ensure the wound isn't open, left to granulate back together. My internal and external stitches burst/unravelled after a terrible post-birth infection and I had issues for 3 years, ending up with a pelvic floor repair and reconstruction of my perenium during that surgery.

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

Thanks so much for your reply - I'm so sorry you went through that, but you have scared me into doing something so thank you for sharing your story. Where should I go to get checked out? Is this is a GP thing or should I contact the community midwife team?

[olicat]

Gp - don't think midwife can prescribe anything if needed. I was adamant I was in more pain than was normal (episiotomy and second degree tear) - midwife said it was fine but gp found it was infected so I got some anti bs.

You may well be fine but always worth getting checked as I feel people can dismiss women a bit postnatally.

Congratulations on your baby btw - had seen some of your previous posts/history so am delighted for you.

[Novia]

I ended up getting checked/cleaned up at the hospital in the antenatal ward, but next-day GP appointment will work - just don't let them fob you off. Very best of luck, much better to get checked. Congratulations on your new baby btw!

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

Thanks so much for the congratulations - I feel extraordinarily lucky to have him. The thing is, I'm not actually having any symptoms at the moment - the pain is very manageable (I'd describe it more as discomfort than pain, in fact) and I feel good in myself. It's just the fact that she said the stitches have gone so early that scared me. Do you think the GP would still be willing to see me with no obvious infection symptoms?

[Novia]

To be fair - I was in agony as I had horrendous infections (and needed 3 different types of antibiotics). But if you just tell the gp you've just had a baby, that your stitches have gone early and you're concerned and want an opinion on whether it needs any follow-up - I think they'd be willing to give you an appointment just for safe-guarding if nothing else.

[Novia]

Lisa - did you get checked out? All okay?

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

Thanks for asking Novia - went to GP yesterday and she said it looks like the wound is healing ok but I have a bit of an infection which she prescribed me antibiotics for. She also said I was trying to do too much. So thank you again for your advice - I think it's thanks to you that this was caught early before it became a bigger problem!

[olicat]

Aha! Really happy you have got anti bs to clear up the infection. I was going to say regardless of pain, don't be shy about getting an appointment if something doesn't feel right as it's your body and it's important. Think my gp is sick of the sight of me post birth 😂

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

Thanks, olicat! Was glad I went - thought I might be making a fuss over nothing but GP said straight away that it looked like there was a bit of an infection in the external bit of the tear. A bit annoying as I thought I'd been so careful with cleaning the area, but ah well.

[Novia]

Fab - well done, hopefully you'll have nipped any future issues in the bud! Take care and enjoy your new arrival!